Summary: My AU with Victor and James in their past. Victor's mutancy is showing up and his father sends him away with his friends for training.
Genre: Adventure/General
Rating: PG for language and situations
Reviews: You bet....lots
The Family: A Blast from the Past: Victor Goes Native
Mr. John Howlett stood in front of his large house with his eldest son, speaking to another man. A group of horses were standing patiently nearby. One was fitted with large parcels strapped to its back. A young man dressed in buckskins was sitting on a large pinto horse waiting for his uncle who was visiting with Mr. Howlett. He stared at the blonde boy who was standing just a few feet away from the older men looking very sad and angry.
"Then it's agreed?" Asked Mr. Howlett, in a firm tone to other man.
"Yes, it is agreed." The other man agreed.
"Good. Let me speak with Victor then." Mr. Howlett said nodding.
"Of course." The other man said nodding and went over to the horses.
Mr. Howlett walked over to his son who was looking quite angry and rebellious.
"Victor......." Mr. Howlett began, but his son interrupted him.
"You're sending me away because of Her!" Victor said angrily.
"No, of course not." His father said, trying to sooth his son.
"She hates me!" Victor said his voice breaking.
"Victor that will be quite enough! Your mother does not hate you!" Mr. Howlett said sternly. It nearly broke his heart to think his son felt that way.
"It was an accident, I didn't mean too!" Victor said, nearly sobbing.
"Of course it was an accident…no one is blaming you." Mr. Howlett put a kind hand on his son's shoulders. "Look accidents happen, and she doesn't hate you." Victor looked down at his hands. His nails were long and sharp. No matter how much he cut them, they always grew back in only a few hours. And they were strong, they weren't nails anymore they were claws. He accidentally scratched his little brother and the scratch wasted no time in getting infected. James was weak on his best day and because of a little scratch he almost died.
"I am not sending you away just because of that. I'm sending you to live with my friends so they can teach you how to handle yourself. It'll give your mother a chance to calm down a bit, as well. She's just angry, she'll forgive you soon. Just give her a chance to miss you. And this way you have a chance to make new friends, learn new things. They can help you deal with what is happening to you."
"I'm a freak." Victor said glumly.
"You're not a freak. You're just different. Now I've talked to the Chief and he said that there have been people like you before, and he can help you." His father smiled at him.
"Really, I'm not the only one?" Victor asked with wide eyes.
"Hardly," Mr. Howlett chuckled. "Just go with them and learn what they want to teach you. Their people have been living like they have been for thousands of years and it's not a bad way to live. You'll see. Obey them to the best of your ability and just try to have a good time too. I bet that young man on the pinto would be a very good friend. He looks just about your age." Mr. Howlett knew that Victor as upset as he was, couldn't stay mad or sad for too long. A smile found its way to Victor's face. "Oh, look, here comes Thomas with your horse Malachi." Victor turned to look. Thomas was being dragged by a large black horse from the stables at a fast clip. The horse looked at Victor and whinnied. He broke away from Thomas… trotting up to Victor and nuzzling him affectionately.
"As you can see, Mr. Victor, Malachi brought me to you, again. I don't know why I even bother to ev……." Thomas turned and walked back to the stables shaking his head and muttering away. Victor and his father laughed.
Victor stopped laughing and looked at his father. "How long will I be gone?" He asked.
"That depends on what's going on here, and how you are doing. We'll just see how it goes, alright?" His father smiled at him and ruffled his son's long blonde hair. The boy was growing up so fast. He couldn't understand why one of his sons was hale and hearty and getting stronger and bigger by the day and the other just labored for breath and life. He understood his wife's anger, but he could bring himself to blame Victor for James's infection. James was sensitive to everything, and it was upsetting to see Victor taking the blame for something that might have happened anyway. He gave Victor a hug and propelled him to the horse's side and helped him get on.
"All right Malachi, be a good horse and take good care of Victor." Mr. Howlett said addressing the horse directly. The horse nickered. He patted the large black's neck and gave Victor a reassuring grip on the leg. "Have a safe trip son." Mr. Howlett said.
"Do not be concerned, John, your son will be fine." The man said with conviction.
"Thank you, Tracer. I would expect that he will be. Have a good journey home. If you need anything, you have only to send a messenger." Mr. Howlett said.
"Thank you John, but I doubt very much if we shall need anything." Tracer nodded to his nephew and the three of them rode away. Victor didn't notice that his mother was looking out the window watching him leave, she was crying softly.